2231 - Ad Hoc Committees, Task Forces, and Advisory Councils

The bulk of the Grand Island Public Schools Board’s work is addressed through its five standing committees (Personnel, Policy Review, Facilities and Finance, Americanism (Leadership for Learning), and Public Relations and Partnership Development – Policy 2230). The Board can also accomplish its work through a variety of small groups including ad hoc committees, task forces, or advisory councils.

Ad hoc committees are formed on annual basis to study and find creative solutions to a particular challenge the District is facing, such as Legislative and Greater Nebraska School Association, Calendar, Grand Island Public Schools Foundation, Extra standard, Labor Relations, and Safety.

A task force can be formed if there is an objective that can be achieved in a relatively short period of time. Task forces are designed to bring people together to solve a problem and are short in duration with a specific focus, such as naming a facility, bond issue, or early childhood study.

Advisory councils or coalitions assist boards in carrying out their work by providing expertise and advice in selected areas. Advisory councils do not have any governance responsibilities and are a good way to include former board members, potential board members, subject matter experts, and others in the work of the board without placing them on the board. The GIPS Parent Advisory Council, Key Communicators, and Teacher Leaders Coalition are examples of advisory councils in GIPS.

Ad hoc committees and task forces are a good way to involve non-board members in the board’s work. This also gives the volunteer and staff leadership the opportunity to evaluate group members for their leadership potential and interest them in further volunteer opportunities or becoming a board member. Authorization to act on behalf of the board may only be delegated to standing committees comprised solely of board members.

Generally, small groups should be structured so that there are sufficient members to do its work. Limiting board member service to two members on each small group gives board members the opportunity to focus on an area and develop expertise that can further the work of the organization and allows for membership from the greater community. The small group membership should represent the diversity of the community to include students and parents, race, ethnicity, income level, gender, and age.

A member of the GIPS superintendent’s cabinet facilitates the small group structure. The cabinet member is responsible for translating the board’s goals for the group into meeting agendas and work plans. The cabinet member acts as facilitator working with staff as appropriate to prepare background materials for meetings, scheduling meetings, preparing minutes and reports, and otherwise keeping the group functioning. Cabinet members report on the work of their group to the full board.

Groups should perform regular self-assessments to determine if they are working effectively, achieving their established goals, and providing value to the organization. This is completed at the end of each meeting or on an annual or more frequent basis. When making a recommendation to the board, the GIPS Needs Analysis Protocol is shared with the Board.

Annual Notice of FERPA Rights | Notice of Nondiscrimination: The Grand Island Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex or gender, sexual orientation, marital status or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts. The following persons have been designated to handle inquires regarding the non-discrimination policies: Students: Associate Superintendent for Student Services, Kneale Administration Building, 123 South Webb Road, PO Box 4904, Grand Island, NE 68802-4904; 308-385-5900. Employees and Others: Director of Human Resources, Kneale Administration Building, 123 South Webb Road, PO Box 4904, Grand Island, NE 68802-4904; 308-385-5900. Complaints or concerns involving discrimination or needs for accommodation or access should be addressed to the designated Human Rights Officer. For further information about anti-discrimination laws and regulations, or to file a complaint of discrimination with the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education (OCR), please contact the OCR at 601 East 12th Street, Room 353, Kansas City, MO 64106, (800) 368-1019 (voice), Fax (816) 426-3686, (800) 537-7697 (telecommunications device for the deaf), or ocr.kansascity at
ed dot gov.